bushido_man96

Although those titles are somewhat dated, I think they are very valuable reading. Did anyone know that Grandmast Cho was a 1st generation black belt under General Choi?

Those are very good points, MizuRyu. I think your point about the rules of the UFC has good merit. The same conditions kind of arised early on in the existence of Judo, and when the Judo and Jiujitsu practitioners dueled it out in bouts to determine which would be used to train the Japanese police force. What the UFC/MMA practitioners have going for them is much the same that Judo had as its advantage: training methods. The rule sets allow them to train safely, and at combat speed, without the risk of disabling the training partner. I truly think that is where the advantage of MMA training comes into play. I also think you are right that it in no way diminishes the value of other martial styles. The advent of MMA competition has caused other MAs to stand up and take notice of the value of being experienced in all ranges of combat. What should be happening is learning and sharing in the world of MA. Not to be confined with the world of MMA, but to all MAs. Good post, by the way.

I have seen those before, and I would love to give them a whirl. I used to do speed bag work, and I loved it. Not much head movement involved there, though. Great for hand speed, however.

This is a good starting point to. But it needs to be built on so your reacting, not anticipating what your partner is doing. To achieve that, give the pad holder a number of options of how they can counter attack, then you have to react to each one has it comes. I like the idea behind this one! I think I may try it. The hard part is learning to react, rather than anticipate, like cross mentioned. I do want to try it, though. I think I could work it right into my Combat Hapkido curriculum, if I ever get good enough at it!

I have noticed the different outfits, but I didn't know what the method behind the madness was. After reading the posts above, it does make good sense.

Exactly. There is so much that goes into it. I like Shorin Ryu and find the stances more natural. I also don't like memorizing tons of kata. But the bottom line is if you like the school and how they do things; the people who teach and the way they teach; and the people who train there - then you will find value. You are spot-on there, Baron.

It is true that kids will be kids. However, most adults enrole their children in a martial arts institute to have the learn a little discipline. During the time in class, it is important for the instructor to hold that discipline to them. In the end, it makes the classes better and more productive for all involved.

That first one was hilarious! When I saw the names, I knew it would be good!

You may be right. But Bob Sapp did fight K-1 for a time. I would have to agree, to an extent. However, Shamrock made the reverse transition quite well.

I find that being short, I have to work at angles more. I can't work straight on with a whole lot of success.

Oh, man, what a bummer!

I don't study Tai Chi, but admire it and would like to study one day. I do have the video from this guy tho, and it's pretty impressive: http://www.internaldamagetaichi.com/ He's LEO, and demonstrates in a grafittied wash, or some such. Wow, looks very interesting. Thanks for the link.

I have been watching here and there on the NFL Network bits and pieces of the NFL Combine. I don't know why, but I enjoy watching the skill practices that they do. Maybe it is my love for well-executed technical skills; I don't know. But watching the form running and drills that they do is just a blast. I have done some of those skills practices before, and although I may not be an athletic specimen, nor very fast, for that matter, I always enjoyed doing them. Those scouts put quite a bit of stock into the athlete's combine performances. What do you all think about them?

Just 2...because I have the lights on!

That is some different stuff. Definetely looks like a game of tag. Some of those guys had some decent moves, though. I wonder if any of them do any other level of contact fighting?

That's awesome. I love the Caporiea moves. Practical? No. But there are a lot of things out there that aren't, but we all do them anyways. Why? Because we enjoy them! This is what is great about the martial arts. We can all find our niche.

Hey, that ain't fair! You can't start out like that, admitting you have vids that you don't want to post!! Post them, I think we would all like to see them!

It sounds like you have taken a step in the right direction. Good for you. Stay the course.

Thank you, sir!

After finishing with a round kick, hook kick, or even the spin side kick, you finish in a good position to defend. After finishing with the lead leg side kick, your body is left sideways, whether you rechamber your leg, or just let it go to the ground. You are terribily vulnerable to a takedown.

I bow when my name is called, along with answering with an emphatic "Yes, sir!" Then, if they give a command for the bow, I do it again. Then, upon dismissal, I bow to them one more time.

I actually got the idea of practicing the jumping and chambering from the Grandmaster Hee Ill Cho's book The Complete Master's Jumping Kick. In this book, he does a very good job of breaking down the various parts of the kicks, and in practicing them, recommends practicing jumping and chambering, without the kick. This ensures that you are getting your chambers into the proper postition, which in the end, facilitates a better kick. He also has a book called The Complete Master's Kick, in which he does much the same, but just with standing kicks. Everything from the front kick up to the spinning heel kick.

I don't really agree with you here. Although I can see that you are making a point about continuing to learn and improve, but I don't believe that it really takes a lifetime to master a punch. I feel that way about a lot of aspects of the MAs as well. I think it has become some of the manufactured mysticism in order to make the martial arts look like more than they are. Sure, there are several components that goes into throwing a punch. Sure, it will take some time to learn how to do it properly. Developing maximum efficiency will take time as well. A lifetime, though? I think it is much shorter than that. I feel the same way about learning forms. Sure, you can spend a lifetime on one form, trying to perfect all of its nuances, and learning and developing the bunkai. Is one form all you need? Sure, maybe. I can say that it is, or isn't. But for some, it may be all they need. And I think that is great. However, by expanding your learning into other areas, you stimulate your brain to think of different scenarios. Variety is the spice of life. However, when talking of the "lifetime" that it takes to master something, becomes a turn-off to those wanting to learn self-defense. I think it would be more correct to say that you can spend a lifetime attempting to master something. But to say that it really does take that long, I think tends to be misleading.

The noogie, that's great! I think even when he started striking from the mount, it was to get an arm into an armbar moreso than to try to knock the guy out.

Good points, cross. I really enjoyed the fact that the Hapkido was added to the school, and equally disappointed that it was taken away. Now, however, me and a small group of friends have begun to practice our Combat Hapkido again. I am also currently developing a curriculum for the Combat Hapkido, to make it more inclusive. My school is a good Taekwondo school when it comes to knowing the requirements for testings. We do lots of basics, then forms, then one-steps, and maybe some sparring. When testing time comes, we know the forms, etc., really well. However, I think we need more, especially when it comes to self-defense.